Now that Halloween is over, you might be wondering what to do with your pumpkins. Here’s your guide, from where to compost them to animal rescues accepting donated pumpkins.
🗑️ What NOT To Do With Your Pumpkin
- Don’t throw your pumpkin in the trash. More than 1 billion pounds of pumpkins end up in landfills each year, and release harmful methane gas as they decompose.
- While some websites recommend feeding pumpkins to wildlife, many experts say it can disrupt ecosystems, and pumpkin mold/rot can cause animals to become ill.
🎃 What To Do With Your Pumpkin Instead
- Take your jack-o-lantern to any Metro convenience center for composting.
- Compost Nashville will compost pumpkins and other materials for you, and either deliver the results right to your door for use in your garden, or donate them to local farms.
- Several local farms and animal sanctuaries are accepting pumpkin donations to use as compost or feed through the nonprofit Pumpkins for Pigs.
- You can also donate your pumpkins to Piccolo Farms Animal Sanctuary at their annual Pumpkin Harvest on Nov. 8. There will be vendors, live music, hot chocolate, and animals to pet!
- Still have a whole, undecorated pumpkin? Roast it, stuff it, puree it for a pie, and don’t forget the seeds. Feel free to share results with your friendly City Cast Nashville team. 😁
- Or make pumpkin dog treats for your furry friends!
🌺 Planting a Native Fall Garden
